A 70 year old Dalit woman was beaten up and branded her lips in Bhilwara town of Rajasthan, on the suspicion of practising black magic. Police have arrested three persons for inflicting torture on the old woman.

Resident of Bhilwara town, Bali Bharu Doli was allegedly beaten up by her neighbours Babu Lal Soni, his son Satya Narain and their relative Ramesh Chand Soni, on Tuesday. Police sources said the Soni family suspected her of being a sorcerer since Soni’s ailing wife was not recovering from her illness. Her husband Babu Lal thought the lonely widow was upto some mischief and decided to teach her a lesson.

They beat her up and branded her lips with a hot object, Bhilwara SP Mohan Singh told Deccan Herald. Police immediately arrested Babu Lal Soni and Satya Narain, following a report by the victim on Tuesday and Ramesh Chand Soni, their relative, was arrested on Wednesday.

This is not the first instance where a woman has been branded a witch and beaten up in the state on the suspicion of  practising black magic. The state women’s commission had taken strong exception to inflicting torture on women who are mostly single, helpless or belonging to the scheduled caste and tribes in the name of witch. A draft bill prepared  to stop the ill practice is pending with the state govt.